The 'quick' answer is that the finished, or good side of the fence faces the outside of your property, visible to neighbors and the outside world. That being said, the fence posts (or poles), rails, and other hardware are installed on the inside of the fence line and face you.
If you're the courteous type and enjoy getting along with your neighbours, it would be generous to show the smooth side of the fence towards them, but this is far from being an established convention and there's absolutely no obligation to do so if you don't want to.
One of the most important reasons your fence posts should be set in concrete is to keep them plumb and level over time. If all supporting the fence post is loose soil or sand, a good storm with heavy rains and strong winds can leave your fence leaning and posts sagging.
When it comes to a wooden privacy fence or a picket fence, the finished or “nice” side of the fence should face your neighbors. Not only is this common courtesy, this is a rule enforced by the vast majority of townships and boroughs.
Face the finished side of the fence toward your neighbor
In particular, the solid panel fences often used for privacy are generally constructed like this. The finished side should face toward your neighbor. Not only is this more polite, but it's the standard.
Most privacy fences are solidly paneled on one side and have slats on the other. Pointing the solid side outwards is polite, and it makes your property look more appealing. This is also standard practice so if you install your fence with the smoother side facing in, most people will assume it was improperly installed.
To help slow such deterioration, add pea gravel or crushed stone to the bottom of the posthole. Once you have added gravel to a depth of three inches or so, use a piece of scrap lumber to tamp down the layer. Next, pour an additional three inches of gravel into the hole, tamping down a second time.
While a treated 4x4 may last 10 to 25 years, depending on the wood, the soil, and weather conditions, following the simple steps below could double or triple that number. By comparison, an untreated wood fence post may need replacing in as little as five years.
The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet). Add about 6 inches of QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel into the bottom of the hole. Then compact and level the gravel using a post or 2x4.
Also, before you start to dig, be sure to call your local utilities to come mark any underground wires or pipes. The general rule of thumb when setting a post is that the depth of the post's hole needs to be one-third to one-half of the actual above-ground height of the post.
Setting Fence Posts with Dry Cement
While using dry cement, or gravel, to set your fence post can be much less messy; it can also potentially be less durable. Dry cement is best suited for soils that consist of a more clay-like composition. It does not do as well as wet cement in loose soil.
Dry cast posts are manufactured using a semi-dry concrete mix which is compacted to give it strength. Dry posts are approximately 15-20% stronger and less brittle than wet cast posts. As such, you should always look for dry cast concrete posts!
This is FICTION. There is no general rule about whether you own the fence on the left or the fence on the right of your property.
As a rule, if a fence is not a boundary fence, it must be built at least two feet inside your property line. The best options for building near a neighbor's existing fence are placing the new one right up against the current one or leaving enough space between the fences for someone to mow.
Rights and Permissions. If you do not own the fence and it resides within your neighbour's property, you will likely need their permission to attach anything to it.
With concrete holding the moisture against the wood, wood has no chance and will eventually lose the battle. Now you don't have to lose all hope because it's for certain that the concrete around the post will crack, therefore making it easy to pull out when it starts to rot. Even worse, the concrete cracks early.
Fence posts should always be made of a weather-resistant wood, such as cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated pine. Just as important, the post tops should be cut at an angle of at least 30 degrees to shed water.
Made from galvanised steel, DuraPost doesn't rot, split, warp, crack or chip and can even withstand winds of up to 110mph! It's a no brainer if you ask us.
Most fence posts require anywhere from one to 10 bags of concrete. Actual concrete amounts vary depending on post hole diameter and depth. Account for frost lines and gravel when doing calculations.
As a general rule of thumb, you'll need to place at least 1/3 the height of the post in the ground. For example, a six-foot tall fence will need at least two feet of post in the ground. Research the frost line depth in your area.
If there are more than one rock or stone or if there are a series at regular intervals, rocks were used to indicate a turning or stopping point. Long before marking chalk, paint, strip markers and GPS were available, ranchers and farmers used stones as visible place or reference point markers.
You can't make changes to your side without their permission, such as painting it.
Yes, you can build next to your neighbour's fence. As long as you're inside your property line you're fine. One consideration: your posts might have to be staggered relative to the fence posts of the existing fence.